By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
In a decisive move to combat child hunger and save young lives, Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has approved the release of ₦250 million as a matching fund for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) — a life-saving nutrition supplement for children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
The intervention, carried out in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is part of the Namadi administration’s renewed drive to end child malnutrition and ensure every child in Jigawa grows up healthy and strong.
Announcing the development after the State Executive Council meeting in Dutse, the Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Sagir Ahmed Musa, said the approval reflects the governor’s “deep commitment to the welfare of children and vulnerable families.”
“This initiative underscores Governor Namadi’s passion for protecting our children. By approving ₦250 million as a matching fund with UNICEF, the administration is taking concrete action to ensure that no child in Jigawa is lost to hunger or preventable disease,” Musa stated.
He explained that RUTF, an energy-dense therapeutic food, is used globally to treat severe malnutrition in children under five through community-based programmes.
According to Musa, the partnership with UNICEF will make the treatment accessible across all local government areas, giving thousands of children a second chance at life.
“Governor Namadi’s focus remains on delivering health and nutrition programmes that directly impact the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. The aim is to reduce child mortality and build a healthier, more productive generation,” the Commissioner added.
The state, he said, will continue to strengthen collaborations with international partners to promote sustainable health and nutrition outcomes across Jigawa.
Reacting to the development, the State Coordinator of the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Comrade Shuaibu Musa Kafingana, hailed the initiative as “a game changer” in Jigawa’s nutrition landscape.
According to him, the ₦250 million matching grant will attract an equal contribution from UNICEF, raising the total value of RUTF commodities to ₦500 million.
“This commitment will fully stock over 77 Centres for the Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) across the state. It’s a significant boost that will enable us to treat and save thousands of children battling severe malnutrition,” Kafingana said.
He commended the Namadi administration for its proactive, nutrition-sensitive policies, describing the approval as “a clear testament to leadership that listens, acts, and puts people first.”
With this intervention, Jigawa is once again setting the pace in tackling malnutrition in northern Nigeria — turning compassion into action, and giving every child a fair chance to survive and thrive.